Olympiacos are up against what may be the richest No. 8 seed in EuroLeague history, while Paris Basketball have shown that even with one of the league's lowest budgets, miracles are still possible. BasketNews breaks down the financial landscape behind each playoff matchup – from powerhouse payrolls to underdog efficiency.
What if money played basketball? We've all heard the saying – money doesn't win games.
But what if it did? What if the EuroLeague Playoffs were decided not by execution on the court, but by the financial firepower behind each club?
Based on in-depth financial research conducted by BasketNews near the close of the EuroLeague signing window, we compared team budgets across the playoff field to see how each matchup would shake out if budgets, not basketball, were the deciding factor.
According to BasketNews' budget data, most paired teams operate with remarkably similar payrolls, suggesting we could be in for tightly contested series across the board.
But a deeper look reveals some striking contrasts – subtle gaps and unexpected disparities that make this financial breakdown even more compelling.
Richest No. 8 Seed Ever?
Take Olympiacos vs. Real Madrid, for example.
It's rare – if not unprecedented – for
